Notice! These Summer Heat-relieving Appliances Also Need Fire Safety Tips→

Notice! These summer heat-relieving appliances also need fire safety tips→

In the hot summer season, while home appliances bring us coolness and convenience, they also conceal fire risks that cannot be ignored. Statistics show that more than 30% of summer fires are caused by electrical problems, which reminds us that we must re-examine our usual usage habits.

Hot weather increases electrical load

In summer, the temperature usually exceeds 35 degrees Celsius. The continuous high temperature makes the components inside the appliance more likely to overheat. Many household appliances, such as refrigerators and air conditioners, must run 24 hours a day to maintain their functionality. Such long-term, high-load working conditions will accelerate the aging process of circuits and components, posing safety risks. Especially during the peak hours of electricity consumption in the afternoon, the grid voltage may not be very stable, which further increases the operational risk of electrical appliances.

Circuit designs in older communities are often unable to meet the demands of modern high-power appliances. When air conditioners, electric water heaters, rice cookers and other such equipment are turned on at the same time, old lines are extremely easy to heat due to excessive current, and the insulation layer may melt or be damaged. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly evaluate the carrying capacity of home circuits, especially during high temperature seasons. This is a basic step to prevent fires.

Potential threats to air conditioner outdoor units

A common source of summer fires is the outdoor unit of the air conditioner. However, its danger is often underestimated. Many people, in pursuit of beauty or to save space, place the outdoor unit in a narrow corner of the balcony or on the exterior wall. The surrounding area is filled with cardboard boxes, plastic products and other flammable debris. The large amount of high-temperature hot air emitted by the outdoor unit when cooling is not dispersed in time, the heat will accumulate and bake these debris.

For outdoor units that have been exposed outdoors for a long time, their internal circuit joints will become loose and corroded due to wind and rain erosion. Once a short circuit occurs in the circuit and ignites, the splashed sparks can easily ignite the accumulation. Professional installers recommend that at least 50 centimeters of cooling space should be reserved around the outdoor unit, and dust and debris should be cleaned regularly to ensure smooth ventilation.

Hidden risks of refrigerators

The ice needs to be kept powered on all year round. Its compressor is located on the back or bottom, which is the main component that generates heat. For aesthetic reasons, people often place the refrigerator close to the wall, or fill it with various items around it. This behavior greatly hinders heat dissipation. If the compressor is operated in an overheated state for a long time, not only will the power consumption increase, but the coil insulation layer will also be more susceptible to embrittlement and cracking.

Frost that is too thick inside the refrigerator will increase the workload of the compressor. At the same time, if it is not cleaned in time, the dust and oil accumulated on the condenser will cover the heat sink like a quilt, thus affecting the heat dissipation efficiency. It is recommended to clean the vents on the back and bottom of the refrigerator at least once a quarter, and ensure that there is at least 10 cm between the back and the wall.

Electricity safety of high-power electrical appliances

In summer households, high-power appliances such as air conditioners, electric water heaters, and electric ovens are used quite frequently. There is a widely recognized mistake in plugging these high-power appliances into the same ordinary socket or power strip. According to national standards, high-power appliances such as air conditioners must use special three-hole sockets with ground wires, and must be controlled by an independent air switch.

When many families are renovating, they do not bury dedicated lines with sufficient cross-sectional area in advance. Instead, they use ordinary 2.5 square millimeter lines to connect the air conditioners. This approach is risky. Because the current when high-power electrical appliances are started is very large, and dedicated lines can withstand this impact. Special attention needs to be paid here. Do not use "universal sockets" just for the sake of convenience, or use those aging or damaged power strips. After all, they cannot provide stable and safe current transmission.

Line aging and daily inspection

The electrical wiring in the home has its own service life. Under normal circumstances, those wires laid hidden can be used for fifteen to twenty years in a normal environment. However, in hot and humid summers, the aging process will be accelerated. Key areas that need to be inspected include socket lines that are pressed by furniture all year round, as well as wires in humid environments such as kitchens and bathrooms, and socket interfaces that are frequently plugged and unplugged.

During the inspection, you should pay attention to check whether the wire insulation has hardened or cracked, whether the socket panel is discolored, whether there is a burnt smell, and whether the plug is loose or sparking when inserted. For those houses that have been used for more than ten years, it is recommended to ask a professional electrician to conduct a comprehensive inspection, especially to check whether the air switch and leakage protector inside the distribution box are effective.

Emergency treatment of electrical fires

Once you notice smoke or fire coming from an electrical appliance, the first priority is to immediately cut off the main power supply. The most reliable way is to go to the meter box and turn off the main switch directly. Never use water or foam fire extinguishers to put out a fire without cutting off the power supply. The reason is that the water flow can conduct electricity, which may cause the rescuer to get an electric shock.

If the fire has just started and the power supply has been disconnected, you can use a dry powder fire extinguisher or cover it with a large amount of sand to extinguish the fire. If the fire has spread, you should evacuate the scene quickly and call 119 for the fire alarm. When escaping, cover your mouth and nose with a wet towel, bend down and move along the wall toward the emergency exit in a low posture, and remember not to take the elevator.

In your home, is there enough space for heat dissipation around the outdoor unit of the air conditioner? Pay attention to the last time you checked the home circuit and sockets! These summer heat-relieving appliances also need fire safety tips → when? If you are willing, please share your home safety experience in the comment area. If you find these reminders useful, please give them a like and forward them to more friends.